Embed

description

Object description

British officer served with 29 Sqdn Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918. Served as Head of Air Staff Department, Secret Intelligence Service in London, 1929-1945

Content description

REEL 1: Background in Gloucestershire, 1897-1914: family; education at Charterhouse School; story of world trip, 1913. Aspects of training with Gloucesteshire Yeomanry in GB, 1914-1915: description of training; intercepting German messages; reason for transferring to Royal Flying Corps. Aspects of training with Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1915-1917: description of training at Central Flying School, Salisbury Plain; flying training in Oxford trainer and Sopwith Pup; posted to 29 Sqdn Royal Flying Corps in France, 4/1917. Recollections of operations with 29 Sqdn Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917: description of flying in Nieuport plane; problem of height; opinion of Nieuport; posted to Izel-le-Hameux; description of opening artillery barrage at Cambrai as seen from the air; problem of Howitzer shells hitting aircraft; nature of patrolling duties and question of vulnerability to German attack; role of Royal Flying Corps in boosting moral of infantry; description of German balloons; question of life expectancy of pilots; transferred to Passchendaele area, Belgium, summer 1917; description of role on reconnaissance patrols; story of being shot down while escorting photo reconnaissance plane, 13/Jul/1917.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of period as POW in Germany, 1917-1919: description of crash and capture behind German lines; injuries sustained in crash; story of Mr Viegers; comparison of British and German pilots; description of interrogation by German officer; relations with German pilots after capture; story of being told Russia about to enter war; description of being take to POW cage and conditions in cage; food; exercise; relations with Belgian civilians; description of journey by cattle truck to Karlsruhe, Germany, via Cologne; memory of Russian POWs; question of being reported killed in action; description of daily routine and conditions in Karlsruhe prison; transferred to POW camp in Trier and description of conditions; transferred to POW camp in Schweidnitz, Silesia; description of daily routine and conditions; accommodation; problem of extreme cold; role as camp Adjutant; question of escape; story of learning German; story of Hauptmann Schmidt and attack on camp by German communists.
REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Prussian generals; attitude to captivity; description of journey back to GB and reception for POWs at Leith, Scotland, 1919; reflections on period as POW; attitude to Germans; comparison of British and German air strategy; opinion of German intelligence operations during war; description of German balloons used in artillery spotting; comparison of British and German aircraft development; description of role on photo reconnaissance missions and question of danger; further comments on period as POW at Schweidnitz camp; medical care; types of prisoners on camp; escape plans; demobilised from RAF and amusing story of letter from Air Ministry concerning capture. Aspects of period in GB, 1919-1939: story of going up to Christ College Oxford and question of reduced fees for ex-servicemen; effects of war on male student numbers.
REEL 4 Continues: question of disproportion of male and female students due to war; description of daily life in Oxford; graduation as lawyer and attitude to employment in legal profession; story of world trip; marriage into Horniman tea merchant family; employment as farmer; story of trip to Africa, 1928; problem of finding employment in London; story of being recruited to set up Air Staff Department of Secret Intelligence Service, 1929.
REEL 5 Continues: Recollections of period as head of Air Staff Department, Secret Intelligence Service in London, 1929-1939: nature of duties; story of first meeting with SIS chief Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair at HQ in Broadway Buildings; description of briefings and setting up office; role of German agent Billy de Ropp; description of intelligence gathering on foreign air strengths; question of threat from Soviet Union; funding; role as head of Air Staff Department; question of obtaining information from American correspondents; problem of obtaining reliable and accurate information; description of intelligence activities in Middle East; attitude to rise of Hitler and Nazis in Germany during 1930s; attitude to pacifism and question of re-armament; problem of German re-armament; role of Billy de Ropp as double agent in Germany and connections with Nazi Alfred Rosenberg.
REEL 6 Continues: description of Billy de Ropp and activities with Nazis; question of de Ropp's wife sleeping with top Nazis to obtain information; story of visit to GB by Rosenberg; opinion of Rosenberg and role in Nazi Party; attitude of Nazis to British and desire to receive good publicity in press; question of rivalry between von Ribbentropp and Rosenberg; story of briefing Edward VIII about Nazi threat; amusing story of Rosenberg's diaries; question of appearing to maintain friendly relations with Nazi government; attitude to Air Staff and Cabinet to work of Air Staff Department.
REEL 7 Continues: story of first visit to Germany at Rosenberg's invitation, 2/1934; description of journey and VIP treatment; question of awareness of persecution of Jews in Germany; reception at Berlin station; first impressions of Nazi Germany; question of maintaining cover and reason for pretending not to speak German; description of visit to Chancellory and meeting with Todt; description of meeting Hitler and first impressions; nature of conversation with Hitler and topics covered including Hitler's attitude to communism and British Empire; question of Hitler revealing plans to invade Soviet Union; amusing description of Hitler ranting against communism; Hitler's opinion of Anthony Eden; opinion of Hitler as statesman.
REEL 8 Continues: further comments on Hitler's character; question of planning future strategy following visit; Rosenberg's comments on burning of Reichstag; description of fundraising event in Weimar and question of popularity of Nazis; story of telephone call from British Embassy and danger of cover being blown; description of visit to Nietzsche museum with Rosenberg and importance of Nietzsche's philosophy to Nazis; description of visit to Hitler Youth college.
REEL 9 Continues: further comments on visit to Hitler Youth college; reaction to visit to Germany and reason for criticism from Sir Samuel Hoare; story of Rosenberg revealing list of prominent Frenchmen working for Nazis; description of luncheon party at Horsher's Restaurant in Berlin with senior Nazi military leaders; story of General Walther von Reichenau revealing plans to invade Soviet Union and use of Blitzkrieg strategy; question of gathering intelligence information during luncheon and opinion of Nazi leaders; question of German re-armament and attitude to Treaty of Versailles; story of suggesting Ralph Wenniger as Air Attache in London; reflections on visit to Germany and importance in determining future strategy.
REEL 10 Continues: further comments on mixed reaction to visit to Germany; attitude of British government to threat of German re-armament; role of Desmond Morton in gathering intelligence and contacts with Winston Churchill; relations with Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin; story of being questioned by Armed Forces Committee about intelligence gathering activities; description of expansion and re-equipping of RAF, 1935; description of intelligence operations in various countries, 1934-1935; use of 'Goering's Bible' to obtain information on Luftwaffe; relations with head of French Secret Service George Ronin.
REEL 11: further comments on relations with George Ronin and use of 'Goering's Bible'; use of Italian sources of intelligence; description of intelligence gathering operations and contacts during mid-1930s; story of visit to GB by Luftwaffe pilots and setting up of Luftwaffe Club, 1935; role of Ken Bartlett at Bristol Aircraft in obtaining intelligence from Germany; attitude to development of Stuka bomber and German Blitzkrieg strategy; problem of communication with War Office over threat of German re-armament; attitude of War Office to role of RAF; story of second visit to Germany, 1934; question of German pilots being trained for possible war; description of developments in air technology, 1936; use of 'shadow' aircraft factories; re-equipment of RAF; development of Spitfire; attitude to German air re-armament; reaction to German re-occupation of the Rhineland, 1936.
REEL 12 Continues: further comments on use of 'Goering's Bible'; source of information; relations with French Air Staff and Secret Service; question of French commitment to war against Germany; attitude to French; story of third visit to Germany, 1936; assigned own ADC Karl Boeme; description of summer solstice ceremony in Lubeck; story of Rosenberg and Nazi religion; description of naval exercise in Lubeck; intelligence gathering techniques used; ease of access to people and information due to Hitler's support.
REEL 13 Continues: story of garden party in Wannemunde and meeting Yugoslav dancer Josephine; role of Josephine as agent; attitude to treatment of Jews in Wannemunde and increasing anti-Semitism in Germany; story of conversation with Rosenberg over treatment of Jews; attitude of Nazis to possible war with GB, 1936; description of intelligence gathering activities about Luftwaffe while in Wannemunde; attitude of Nazis to GB; description of structure of Nazi Party; attitude of Nazis to role of RAF; description of German air re-armament; story of visit to see Erich Koch's programme of resettlement in East Prussia, 1936.
REEL 14: further comments on visit to East Prussia; character of Erich Koch and role in resettlement programme; story of visits to castles and opinion of hospitality; memory of sleeping in Goering's fortified bed; question of the role of women in Nazi society; story of meeting Rudolf Hess; impressions of Hess and commitment to Nazi ideology; reaction to Hess's flight to GB, 1940; question of not being allowed to interrogate Hess; story of Erich Koch settlement area being requisitioned for military use.
REEL 15 Continues: reason for refusing to visit submarine base at Pilau; description of display by Hitler Youth in Konigsberg; further memories of Rudolf Hess; attitude to Hess's post-war imprisonment in Spandau; description of Nuremberg rally, 1938; ceremony and organisation; reaction to Hitler's speech; reaction of crowd to Hitler; story of English Nazi supporter; story of visit to anti-Semitic exhibition in Berlin; description of Nazi Remembrance rally held for founders of Nazi party; reaction to Hitler's speech; opinion of Himmler.
REEL 16 Continues: further comments on Himmler and role in Nazi party; opinion of Goering; amusing story of Goering stuck in doorway; opinion of Kesselring; attitude of Nazis to question of British neutrality, 1937; question of development of radar in Germany and GB during late 1930s; story of visit to Germany, 1938; question of increased security by Nazis; description of attending reception given by Hitler; opinion of Hitler's sense of humour; question of factions and rivalries in Nazi leadership.
REEL 17 Continues: description of atmosphere in Germany, 1938; further comments on Erich Koch and conversion of resettlement areas in East Prussia into military bases; story of cover being blown by Italians and help from Rosenberg in leaving Germany; returned to Paris and further contact with George Ronin; question of obtaining information and importance of photo-reconnaissance and cryptography; further comments on breaking of cover by Italian Intelligence; opinion of Czech Intelligence; attitude to Chamberlain's appeasement policy; reaction of Secret Intelligence Service to Munich agreement, 1938; question of possible agreement with Hitler in 1934; Hitler's belief in horoscopes and outbreak of war; opinion of War Office attitudes; importance of RAF.
REEL 18 Continues: description of intelligence operations during 1930s and problem of lack of co-operation between departments; story of setting up first Inter-Service unit at Bletchley Park, 1940; attitude of Foreign Office to Secret Service; story of sacking of Vansittart; relations with Anthony Eden; attitude of government to intelligence information; reflections on importance of intelligence work during inter-war period; description of German military strength and political power prior to outbreak of war 9/1939; reaction to 'Night of the Long Knives'; opinion of Hitler as C-in-C of the German Army; reaction to Nazi-Soviet Pact; comparison of readiness of Allied and Axis powers for possible war; opinion of situation in France and retreat from Dunkirk, 1940.
REEL 19 Continues: description of role in development of aerial photography, 1938-1939; use of three-dimensional overlapping; relations with George Ronin and French Secret Service; description of converted Lockheed aircraft used for photo-reconnaissance missions; story of trial run over Italian positions in North Africa and Italy; support of Air Ministry and other services for reconnaissance missions; story of pilot Sidney Cotton's cover story as film tycoon; story of Sidney Cotton taking Kesselring as passenger during Frankfurt air show; use of Wilt machine to obtain three-dimensional images; question of Air Ministry taking over photographic unit and use of camouflaged Spitfires for aerial photography; story of setting up of Photographic Reconnaissance Unit; opinion of Sidney Cotton's plan to kidnap Goering.
REEL 20 Continues: question of German fleet being photographed prior to outbreak of war; story of Sidney Cotton evacuating wealthy Frenchmen for money; description of the Oslo Report and setting up of Scientific Intelligence Unit under Henry Tizard; role of R V Jones in development of beam bombing; opinion of R V Jones and Professor Lindemann; relationship between Churchill and Lindemann and question of receiving Ultra messages; role in development of air communications; story of Polish and French co-operation in obtaining Enigma machine, 1938-1939; question of French secrecy over Enigma; story of Stewart Menzies obtaining Enigma machine, 6/1939; description of Enigma machine and problem of complexity of codes; description of work of code and cipher experts at Bletchley Park; method of decoding messages using repeated standard phrases; story of identifying Rommel's Quartermaster; question of success of codebreakers and development of Colossus at Bletchley Park.
REEL 21 Continues: reaction to decoding of first messages; attitude of Chief of Air Intelligence to decoding of messages; story of role in co-ordinating Enigma intelligence operations and protecting secrecy of source; description of ciphers in 1939; memory of outbreak of war, 9/1939. Recollections of period as head of Air Staff Department, Secret Intelligence Service in London, 1939-1945: description of role in organisation of deciphering and distribution of Ultra material; role in setting up inter-service intelligence department and distribution of agreed translation of messages to service chiefs; description of activities and staff in Hut 3, Bletchley Park; nature of messages deciphered; question of decoding Abwehr messages and effect on German spies in GB; memory of Hut 3 chief Squadron Leader Humphreys; attitude of Chamberlain and Chiefs of Staff to value of Ultra material; reason for Chiefs of Staff receiving Ultra information before Churchill; question of conflict between Navy and other services; description of Ultra traffic received during spring, 1940; role of Ultra in Battle of France, 1940; reaction to Churchill becoming Prime Minister, 5/1940; description of Churchill's attempts to prevent French surrender.
REEL 22 Continues: comments on Churchill's statement 'now we are all alone'; description of role of Ultra during Battle of Britain and monitoring German preparations for possible invasion of GB, 1940; interception of messages by Goering to commanders; description of increasing activity in Hut 3; question of using Ultra intelligence about air raids; description of air raid on London docks; reason for Germans changing from day to night raids; problem of smaller raids not being detected by Ultra; opinion of RAF preparations for Battle of Britain; story of intercepting message from Goering and consequent change in strategy by Fighter Command; use of Ultra to obtain information about German losses; amusing story of message about delousing; role of Ultra in determining Fighter Command strategy on 'Eagle Day', 13/Aug/1940; activities of George Ronin and French Secret Service in France, summer 1940; description of operational procedure during Battle of Britain; importance of radar during Battle of Britain; effects of losses on RAF; story of £5 bet with General Ismay.
REEL 23 Continues: question of date of possible German invasion; story of deciphering Ultra message canceling invasion; description of watching air raid on London; attitude of Churchill to air defence; importance of Ultra in success of Battle of Britain; story of enquiry into Dowding's strategy during Battle of Britain and question of maintaining secrecy about use of Ultra; relations between Dowding and Churchill; further comments about Goering and Eagle Day; role of Ultra in identifying targets for German air raids including Coventry,1940; description of beam bombing system; story of Ultra intelligence about intended air raid on Coventry, 14/Nov/1940.
REEL 24 Continues: further comments on raid on Coventry and question of maintaining secrecy of information source; reason for accepting rank of Group Captain; memory of American General Mark Clark; question of discouraging SOE operations to obtain information already received through Ultra; reason for not sharing Ultra information with French; description of incendiary raid on London; working relations with Churchill; story of resignation of Henry Tizard; description of providing Churchill and Eden with Ultra information; reaction to American entry into the war, 1942.
REEL 25 Continues: further comments on working with Churchill; description of role in briefing American generals including Mark Clark; comparison of use of Ultra by British and Americans; attitude to treatment of Dowding after Battle of Britain; description of developments in Ultra and use in North Africa, Europe and Mediterranean, 1941; question of use of Ultra during Battle of Crete, 1941.
REEL 26 Continues: further comments on Battle of Crete; description of role of Ultra in obtaining information about Rommel's supplies and movements; opinion of Rommel; question of Rommel exaggerating shortages; story of intelligence operation to prevent Germans finding out that Enigma codes had been broken; disadvantages of Ultra; further comments on importance of Ultra in North African theatre; question of Montgomery using Ultra information during Battle of El Alamein, 1942; attitude of General Alexander to Ultra; story of 'stand to the last man and die' message sent by Hitler to Rommel.
REEL 27 Continues: story of Ultra information used to warn Soviet Union about impending German invasion, 6/1941; question of not sharing Ultra secret with Russians; opinion of Soviet intelligence services; question of Swiss and use of intelligence; question of sharing Ultra intelligence with Americans prior to entry into war; post-war reaction of Russians to Ultra; description of use of Ultra by Royal Navy; question of separating from other services; co-operation with Coastal Command and Western Approaches Liverpool; use of Ultra in identifying position of Bismarck; description of German 9/10 ciphers; problem of being unable to decipher German naval codes,1942-1943; use of Ultra in identifying and destroying German submarine supply ships; role of Ultra in Mediterranean theatre.
REEL 28 Continues: importance of naval and air co-operation in Malta; question of maintaining secrecy of Ultra at expense of spotter-plane pilots; opinion of American cryptography; description of expansion of Bletchley Park including Hut 3 following American entry into war; description of selection procedure and training for Special Liaison Units; question of maintaining secrecy and threat of death penalty for betraying source; reason for nickname 'The Guardian of Ultra'; question of limiting access to Ultra; opinion of American use of Ultra; opinion of General Spaatz.
REEL 29 Continues: importance of German meteorological reports to plan bombing raids over Germany; story of Major-General James Doolittle and Ultra security; role of aerial photography and Ultra in bombing campaign against Germany; opinion of General Patton; relations between Montgomery and Patton; opinion of General Omar Bradley.
REEL 30 Continues: further comments on General Bradley and use of Ultra in France, 1944-1945; opinion of General Simpson, US 9th Army; use of Ultra by American commanders to decide strategy; problem of German radio silence prior to Ardennes offensive; attitude of Eisenhower to value of Ultra; attitude of Montgomery to Special Liaison Units; story of visit by Montgomery to General Bradley; description of offensive and defensive uses of Ultra.
REEL 31 Continues: use of Ultra by Canadian General Crerar; importance of Ultra in forward planning; description of use of Ultra during Italian campaign; use of Ultra to safeguard Churchill on all foreign trips except to Soviet Union; question of King George VI being on Ultra list; story of Mark Clark using Ultra prior to entry into Rome, 1944; description of role of Ultra during planning for Normandy landings; reaction to development of German V1 and V2 rockets; question of Ultra messages revealing Hitler's state of mind; description of messages sent by Rommel; further description of build-up to Normandy landings; question of Germans regarding Normandy landings as decoy for real invasion, 6/1944; reaction to Rommel being wounded; opinion of Rommel; description of Allied bombing of Caen.
REEL 32 Continues: reaction to death of Rommel; description of role of Ultra in Battle of Falaise, 8/1944; opinion of Montgomery's strategy during battle; relations between Montgomery and Americans; description of supplying Allied armies in France along Red Ball Route; story of conflict between Eisenhower and Montgomery; question of Montgomery ignoring intelligence warnings prior to operations at Arnhem, 9/1944; question of Hitler's responsibility for German military failures.
REEL 33 Continues: description of messages sent by Hitler to generals on Eastern Front; story of Hitler's death and black magic; opinion of Kesselring; story of message from Goering to Hitler requesting to take over as Chancellor; story of Rosenberg asking for help at Nuremberg trials; description of poison false tooth used by Goering and Himmler to commit suicide; description of Hitler's final messages; attitude to closing down of Ultra operations; story of trips to India, Ceylon and Australia to check security, 1944; attitude of General MacArthur to British; story of being locked in hotel room on orders of General MacArthur; description of Anglo-American intelligence operations in Washington; reflections on role with Ultra during war and question of maintaining secrecy.
REEL 34 Continues: opinion of contribution of Ultra to Allied victory; question of Churchill's support for Ultra during war; story of sending final message to Allied commanders to maintain secrecy about Ultra following end of war. Post-war life and employment: story of publication of book 'Ultra Secret' in 1974 and reaction in GB and US.
REEL 35 Continues: attitude of military and naval historians to publication of book; story of joining board of BOAC; description of role as Director of Public Relations and Publicity with BOAC; employment with Colonial Development Association and as farmer. Further recollections of period as head of Air Staff Department, Secret Intelligence Service in London, 1939-1945: story of helping Barnes Wallis to get bouncing bomb approved by Air Ministry.
REEL 36 Continues: further comments on relations with Barnes Wallis and idea of attacking German dams; attitude of Arthur Harris to dams raids; story of being replaced by character of doctor in film 'The Dam Busters'; question of recognition of role of Ultra in Dams raids; comments on the development and importance of aerial reconnaissance during Second World War.

Related content

The Christmas Truce has become one of the most famous and mythologised events of the First World War. But what was the real story behind the truce? Why did it happen and did British and German soldiers really play football in no-man's land?

During the First World War, letter writing was the main form of communication between soldiers and their loved ones, helping to ease the pain of separation.
The British Army Postal Service delivered around 2 billion letters during the war. In 1917 alone, over 19,000 mailbags crossed the English Channel each day, transporting letters and parcels to British troops on the Western Front.